Creators who make videos have it HARD. Shooting content by yourself right when you are starting is not easy. Which camera do you buy? How do you set it up? Why is the audio not great? These are questions that run around your mind. Questions we answer to help you shoot a professional video.
The Rules to Shoot A Professional Video
It takes practice to do anything well, but some basic elements make up a good video. Follow them, and you’ll be shooting like a professional in no time.
1. Invest in the right gear
Get the following gear to shoot a professional video.
- A DSLR camera like Canon Powershot G7X Mark II. Even Kusha Kapila recommends it.
- A tripod. Shaky scenes turn even the most pro videos into a home movie.
- A microphone (which we’ll get to in a moment).
- Another monitor. It gives you a fair idea of how the shot looks while filming.
- Lights.
2. Set the background
Ideally, the room where you shoot a professional video has to be quiet. Find a space where you can close the door and have sufficient area to set up your gear.
- You don’t need a studio. Rather a background with a homey feel adds personality to your content.
- The best room would be the one where you can control the lights. The same lighting in all your content gives a consistent and pro look.
3. Be careful with the lighting
Lighting is crucial to shooting a professional video. It not only sets the mood but also evokes emotion.
- Natural light (the sun) is the best source and the best time to record is early morning or late evening. Any other hour the sun is too harsh, and it creates unflattering shadows on your face.
- Always keep the light source at the front or slightly to the side. For example, if a window is your light source, it should never be behind you.
4. Brush up on composition rules
To shoot a professional video with compelling elements, learn composition guidelines like the rule of thirds, which says that your video should have 9 parts created by three vertical and horizontal lines.
Even simple things like keeping the lens clean make an enormous difference. A smudged lens ends in a blurry video. We’ve offered a wonderful introduction to composition and other valuable tips, such as avoiding flash in our do’s and don’ts of phone photography for creators. Yes, the tips are for photography, but they apply to videography just the same.
5. Set up your studio
With the basics out of the way, you can now set up your “studio.”
- Grab a chair (for you to sit in) and a small desk (to place your laptop or your hands) and place it next to or in front of a light source.
- Install the camera on the tripod an arm’s length away from you. The camera lens should be right above your eye line and pointing downwards.
- Ensure that video resolution is at 1080 HD or 4K. They are the best for professional-looking content.
- More technical creators can even check the frame rate. Keep it at 30 fps, and the video will have a smoother finish. Higher frame rates like 60 fps are ideal when shooting a moving subject (think action movie scenes).
6. Pay attention to audio quality
The audio quality is more important than video quality. A follower will continue to see content not shot in HD or if it’s slightly grainy if the audio is excellent and the content is kickass. But a video with a fuzzy sound or indistinct voice will make them hit the back button within seconds!
- If you are shooting with a phone like iPhone 11, keep it close to you so that the sound is clearly audible to the microphone.
- A better technique is to invest in a Bluetooth mic. It will make the audio in your content sound outstanding.
7. Film in short segments
Record in short, distinct segments only what you need to shoot a professional video.
- Film a take and then stop the clip. Don’t keep the camera rolling continuously.
- It saves time during recording and when you are editing. For instance, if you don’t like a particular part, you simply have to reshoot that line and not the entire sequence.
- The small clips are also excellent to use as a trailer, sneak-peek, and samples!
- If you know a scene was great, mark it. Cover the camera with your hand. When you are editing, look for those hand-covering moments, and you’ll know which are the good takes.
8. Find a good video editing program
A good video editing software is critical to shooting a professional video. It converts raw footage into pro content. iMovie is an excellent choice, but if you can afford it choose Final Cut Pro X. Use the program to:
- Get rid of umms and ahhs, silences, and meanderings.
- Clean up any background noise.
- Adjust the lighting, if required.
- Add in transitions and background score.
Wrapping Up How to Shoot a Professional Video
Making your content look like it was shot by a professional or using a professional camera is not difficult. And if you’re still on shaky ground, here a pro tip.
Think like an editor when making content. Record the same scene from several angles. Add a few safety shots. These will give you more choices when you are polishing up the video. It’ll save time and effort re-filming a particular segment or using a subpar scene that makes your video look less than professional.
You’ve got this. Go forth, and Do Your Thng!
